Ministers reject election reform proposals
24 Jan 07
Single transferable vote and different timings would make system "too complicated"
Scottish Ministers have rejected calls for changes to the way elections are conducted.
The Commission's remit was to examine the consequences of having four different systems of voting in Scotland, and different boundaries for Westminster and Scottish Parliament constituencies, for voter participation; the relationship between public bodies and authorities in Scotland and MPs and MSPs; and representation of constituents by different tiers of elected members.
Recommendations included the introduction of the single transferable vote for European elections; and that Holyrood and local council elections take place on different days. Some of the recommendations relate to reserved matters.
First Minister Jack McConnell said the Executive believed that holding the elections on the same day was the best solution for voters and turnout, while Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said the Commission had not put forward a strong enough argument for single transferable votes.
The Executive has endorsed the recommendation that young people leaving school should have a good understanding of voting and parliamentary democracy, and is prioritising guidance in its current review of the curriculum in Scotland.
The commission had also called for changes in the way candidates are put forward, saying that list seats should be filled from open, rather than closed lists, so that people have more opportunity to vote for individuals instead of parties.
However, Mr Alexander said that this would overcomplicate the voting system.